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his skill at arms, but also his honor and dignity.

    The council was convened the next day after
the kings broke their fast together. The meal was simple after the
feasting of the day prior, just bread and cheese and salt pork and
fruits, with cups of strong ale. When they were assembled, the
archbishop led all in a prayer for their success and declared the
council in session. Present in addition to Constantine and Merlin
were the six other kings, all proud and lordly and each with his
own concerns and goals.
    Lot, king of Luthien, far to the north,
closest to the Pictish allies of Vortigern and most threatened by
them. Lot was distrustful of the southern kings, and reluctant to
commit any of his forces other than to his troubled border.
    Urien, the youthful king of Rheged, no older
than Uther himself and also a mighty warrior. Rheged was well north
of Powys, straddling the great wall built by the Emperor Hadrian.
Rheged and Luthien had been sometimes friends, sometimes enemies,
though recent dangers had pushed them closer together. Urien had
only recently succeeded his father, and none knew his mind as
yet.
    Rience, king of Gwynned, just north and east
of Powys, an arrogant and warlike monarch, not well-liked by his
neighbors, most of whom he had fought at one time or another. A
good warrior, but vain, he thought himself stronger than he
was.
    Vortiporius, even younger than Urien, who had
just ascended the throne of Dyfed, along the coast west of Powys,
after his father Aurelius was slain in battle in Ireland. He was
aggressive and ill-tempered, and though just a boy, he was clever
and hard to read.
    Ogyruan, father of Leodegrance and king of
Cameliard in south, bordering Cornwall. Constantine and Ogyruan
were close friends, and Powys and Cameliard had long been allies.
He would almost certainly support Constantine, though the others
knew this and would pay little heed to his entreaties, thinking he
and Constantine to be of one voice.
    Pellinore, king of the Isles, was also a
warrior of great renown. He had allied with Aurelius, father of
Vortiporius, for both claimed lands in Ireland and together they
had sought to enforce their rule. Vortiporius blamed Pellinore for
his father's death for failing to aid him in battle. In truth,
Pellinore was himself sorely pressed when Aurelius marched into an
ambush, and there was little he could have done. But the bad blood
persisted.
    Thus were these seven free kings of Britannia
assembled, for the others were pledged to the banner of Vortigern.
To the east the Saxon invaders held the coasts, and in the far
north the barbarous Picts hated all those of the south and would
fight for Vortigern so they might invade and pillage rich
lands.
    There was one other lord of import and power,
and though not sworn to Vortigern, he had refused to attend the
council. Gorlois of Cornwall ruled vast lands in southwestern
Britannia and commanded a veteran army, which he had used time and
again to bully his neighbors. A pompous and currupt lord, Gorlois
was cruel, and he was liked by few. Most of those assembled were
relieved he was not in attendance, but Constantine and Merlin knew
they needed to add Gorlois' army to the alliance, or they would
lack the strength to defeat Vortigern.
    "Once again, welcome to each of you, great
kings of Britannia." Constantine stood at the head of the table as
he began to address to the council. "My heartfelt gratitude to all
of you for accepting my invitation. It has been far too long since
I have seen some of you, my brothers.
    "We are met here to discuss a matter of grave
import to all of us, for the usurper Vortigern is an enemy of each
and every lord here assembled. Indeed, many of you have fought
battles against each other, and some have met me on the field as
well. But though we have had disputes, we are all loyal Britons,
and I have asked you to come here because Britannia needs all its
kings in this time of trouble. Vortigern invites the invader to our
shores as